Rotary feeder



March 30 1926.

G. F. KEY

ROTARY FEEDER Filed June 6, 1923 Patented Mar. so, was.

tsnea GEORGE E. KEY, on DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ROTARY FEE E Application filed June 6,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoRoE .13. Kim, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of "Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRo vtary Feeders, of which the following is a specification, reference being "bad therein to the accompanying drawings; 7

This invention relates to devices for distributing, measuring and handling. finely comminuted or powdered"materialsuch as,

ng and measuring accurately anddefinitely the fuel supplied thereto and which is also preferably provided, with means for deliveringconstantly and steadily the measured fuel to the stoker.

Another object is to provide an apparatus in which the measuring device is preferably spaced from the supply conduit leading from the storage tank and is preferably located in a casing that extends downwardly from the supply conduit so that a free gram ity head is provided on the fuel in the casmg.

Another object is toprovide simple and effective means for removing any overflow from the casing enclosing the measuring device and for returning the surplus fuelt'o the source of supply. V

Another object is to provide a measuring device that is simple in construction and that is preferably provided with means for feeding the fuel intermittently and in con stant quantity to a conduit leading to the stoker. I I

Another object isto provide simple and eifective means for preventing the escape of any material or dust from the casing which encloses the measuring device. l Q Vith the above and other objectsin view,

0 the invention consists of certain novel features of construction,combinations, and ar rangements of parts as will be more fully de- 1923. serial No. 643,663.

' scribed and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

1 In the accompanying drawings p Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention and showing parts in section; r

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken online 22 of Figure 1; I

- Figure 3 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Figure 2'.

,IVith the present invention, the comminuted material is preferably maintained in, 1

a circuit that is preferably composed of a suitable storage tank, a chute, an elevator, and a conveyor, the latter preferably having a proper outlet or tak'e otf' opening for defleeting the material to be used to ain eas v uring device that is preferably constructed to determine the required volume or desired weight for any definite purpose. The unusedmaterial' preferably continues in the circuit through the conveyor, chute and elevat'or, the latter leading back to the'storage tank from, which the material isstarted. By a simple arrangement in the shaperof-the storage tank, I have practically reduced to a m nimum the bridging of the material over "8 the'conveyor in the tank outlet By removmg the excess materlal I have ellminated any changeof head in the material over the measuring device. Also this same scheme rendersany flooding harmlessfor'the reason'that gthe excess thus caused is carried along as unused material in the circuit and is passed on to thenexttake-oiff;( should more thanone be employed) or is carried still further back to the storage tank. Furthermore, all of ,theftubes are essentially made dust-proof so that the apparatus is nota menace to health. It will also be noted that the measuring device eliminates all irregularities of feed and gives a constant and I 9 Y uniform supply? in the required time and in the proper place." Thus I have overcome in a thoroughly practical way all of the obstacles which are encountered, not onlyin the handling, but in the measuring of the uantit of material used. fAsv aresultQI l I) v s have provided a positive means ofdeterminin the rate and amount-of delivery at any instant or iniany'specified time ata fixed or definite place.

, gular extensions 8 and 9 respectively, the exthe tank 2.

opposite open ends of the casing 6.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate correspending parts throughout the several views,

the numeral 1 designates a tube or casing leading from a suitable tank or storage receptacle 2 to a downwardly extending chute 3 which is connected at its lower end to an upwardly inclined tube 4 leading back to The bottom of the tube 1, adjacent to the chute 3,-is preferably provided with a suitable opening 5 through which the material in the tube may fall by gravity into a casing 6 that forms a housing for a measuring device 7.

The casing 6 is preferably cylindrical in shape and at diametrically opposite point-s thereof is preferably provided with rectantension 8 having lateral flanges 10 at its upper end secured to substantially L-shaped flanges 11 extending downwardly from the tube 1. v

The material discharged from the storage tank is preferably moved along in the tube 1 to the opening 5 by means of a screw conveyor 11 having spaced flights 12 arranged thereon between the tank and the opening 5. The conveyor .is preferably devoid of flights over the major portion of the opening 5 and is preferably provided with one or more flights, 13 between the opening 5 and the chute 3 for removing any overflow from the casing 6. This overflow is dis- ,oharged from the tube 1 into the chute 3,

from the lower end of which it is returned to the tank 2 by means of a suitable elevator 14 in the upwardly inclined tube 4.

The measuring device 7 preferably consists of a rotatable wheel 15 which is preferably keyed toa horizontal shaft 16 journaled in a pair' of spiders 17 secured to the T is shaft may be driven by any suitable means, but is preferably driven by means of a variable speed motor. erably located midway between'the spiders 17 and is preferably provided with a relatively wide rim 18 that has a series of spaced relatively narrow elongated pockets 18" formed in the periphery thereof. These pockets are preferably of a length equal to the width of the extension 8 and are adaptfed to receive the material therefrom. Upon rotation of the wheel, the contents of the pockets will fall through the extension 9 and into'a spout 19 which is secured to the extension 9 and which discharges intoa suitable pipe or delivery conduit 20 leading to a stoker or the like (not shown). The for-- ward wall 21 of the spout is preferably incline'd as shown while the rear wall 22 is preferably vertical. I Should air under pressure be used to move the material through the conduit 20,

I preferably provide an opening 23 in the The wheel 15 is pref- -o Jenin 23 is )referabl i re ulated b means 23 2'" of a closure 24; that is preferably pivotally mounted at its upper end on arod 25 extending through the sides of the spout. The closure is preferably constructed of yieldable material and .the sides thereof friction-'- ally engage the edges of the opening to re tain the closure in adjusted position. The spout is preferably provided with a suitable handle 26 for adjusting the samein the opening. 5 I a V I 1 To prevent the escape of material or dust, etc., from between the wheel rim 18 and the casing 6, I preferably provide a pairof compressible rings 27 that are disposed upon opposite sides of the wheel and that engage the sides of the wheel rim 18 and abut against parallel flanges 28 extending inwardly from the inner walls of the casing 6.

Annular followers 29 bear against the rings r 27 and are preferably held in position by means of suitable springs 30 which are located between the followers and the spiders 17. The followers are adapted to be adjusted by means of bolts 31' that extend outrically opposite sides of the casing 6 and are normally retained in engagement with the wheel 15 by means of springs that are disposed between the outer edges of the blocks and a pair of equalizing bars 35 that are threaded upon spaced bolts 36 adjustably mounted in the outer walls of the casing 6 at the ends of the blocks. 7 V

For preventing the escape of material or dust, etc., from between the blocks 32 and theedges of the openings 37 in the casing, I

preferably provide a pair of compressible pads 38 which rest upon the blocks 32 at the inner ends thereof. These pads are preferably located n guides formed 1n the easing above the guldes 33, the inner walls of the casing being preferably inclined in- V wardly as shown at 40 to form theinner walls of the guides 39. The pads 38 are preferably adjusted by means of bolts 41 that are threaded through a pair of plates 42 detachably secured to the outer walls of the casing 6. I r

In use, the portion of the material that is taken off from the tube 1 enters the sorted to when desired as pockets 18 in the me-asuringwheel and is discharged therefrom into the Spent 19 from to the opening 5 is less thanthe altitude of the cone of repose of the material on'the -measuring Wheel. By such an arrangement arching of the material and subsequent improper feeding of the material to the said wheel is prevented, a constant gravity head on the feed wheel being maintained.

, Although 'I have shown and described only one storage tank and one measuringdevice,

it is apparent that anynumber of either or both may be readily used by merely employ ing additional conveyors, chutes, etc., similar to those described herein. I While it is believed thatv 'from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be 'readilyfapparentI desire to have it understood that'I do not limitmyself to what is herein shownand described and that such changes may be refa'l l withinthe scope of what is claimed. I I What I claim as my inventionis 1 I 1. In an apparatus of' the-class described, the combination witha storagetank containing comminutedmaterial, of atube leading from the tank andv having a takeoff opening therein, a casing secured tothetube about the opening, a member commtmicatingwith said' tube, ,a conveyor in the tube hav ng blades 'upon one side of the opening for moving the'material from the tankto the casing, a delivery c0nduit,means in the caslng for transferring the material in measured quantities from the casing to the conduit, said conveyor also having one or more blades upon the opposite side of the opening in said tube for moving any overflow from the casing into the member aforesaid, and means for-returning to, thetank the material received by said member.

2. In an apparatus-0f the class described,

the combination with a storage tank containing' comminuted material, of a tubeleading from the tank, a casing in communication with the tube, a conveyor in the tube for moving the material from the tank to the casing, a delivery conduit, a wheel in the casing and pockets in the rim thereof for transferring the material in measured quantities from the casing to the delivery conduit, compressible members engaging: the

casing and rim of said wheel for preventing the fe'scape of material thercbetwe'en, followers bearing, against said members, and

means for adjusting said followersto vary the compression of said members I 3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combinationwith 'a storage tankcon itainingcomminuted material, of a tube leading from the tank, a casingin communicatron with the tube, a conveyorin-t-he-tube the casing, a delivery conduit, a wheel in the casing and pockets in the rim thereof for transferring the material in measured quantities fr-o-mthe casing to the delivery "conduit, compressible members engaging the casing and therim of the wheel for preventing the escape of material therebetween, and followers yieldably pressed against said members for retaining the same in position. 4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a storage tanlr con taining comminuted material, of 'a'tube lead- -15 for moving the material from'the tank to ing from'the tank, a casing in cominunica- 7 tion with the tube, a conveyor in the tube for movingthe-material fromthe tank to the casing, a delivery'conduit, a wheel in, the

casing having pockets in the rim thereofjfor transferring the material in'measured quan-' tltlGSfIOIIl the casing to the 'dellvery conduit,

blocks pressed against the rim of said wheel for preventing "any ,material other than that injsai'd pockets fromibeing transferred, and

'means for'gadjusting said blocks.- 1 5., Inan apparatus. of the class described, the combination withv a storage tank containingfl comminuted material, of, a casing,

means for conveying material from thetank to said casing, 'a delivery conduit, a' wheel in-the'casing having pock'ets'in'the rim thereor for transferring the'material in measured quantities from the casing to saidvconduit, blocks engaging the rim of said wheelfor preventing anymaterial'other than that in said pockets from being transferred,. and ,means for preventing the escape of material from between said blocksiand saidcasing.

6. In an'apparatus of the class described,

the combination with astorage tank con taining comminuted material, of a casing,

means for conveying material fromthe tank to said casing, a delivery conduit, a wheel "in the casing having pockets in th e rim thereof for transferring the material imeasured quantities from thecasingtosaid 1 conduit, blocks engaging the rim of said wheel for preventing anymaterial other than thatin said-pockets from being transferred, I

and adjustable pads for preventing the escape of material from between said blocks and said casing.

7. In an anp'aratus'of the class described, I i

the combination with a storage tank containing comminuted material, of a conveyo'rfor continuously conveying material from the I I &

tank, said conveyor having an outlet inter,-

mediate its ends, a casing adapted to receive material from the conveyor outlet, a delivery conduit, means for transferring the material in measured quantities from the casing to the conduit, said means adapted to transfer selectively varying quantities of material in given time, the capacity of said conveyor being such that the said casing is at all times substantially filled With the material from the conveyor outlet, and means for removing excess material from a point of the conveyor beyond said outlet. V 8. In. an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a storage tank containing comminuted material, of a conveyor for continuously conveying material from said storage tank, said conveyor having an outlet at a point intermediate its ends, a casing positioned below the conveyor outlet and adapted to receive material therefrom in vvariable amounts for maintaining substantially a predetermined fixed quantity of the material Within said casing, a delivery conduit, means for transferring the material from said casing to said conduit in, measured quantities, said means being adapted to be operated to vary the rate of delivery of the saio material from the casing to said conduit, and means for removing the vmaterial not passing through said outlet from the said conveyor at. a point beyond said outlet. 9. In anapparatus of the class described, the combination With a storage tank containing comminuted material, of aconveyor for continuously conveying 'material from the tank, said conveyor having an outlet intermediate its ends,fa casing positioned below the conveyor outlet and adaptedto receive material therefrom, a delivery conduit, a measuring device Within said casing for transferring material in measured quantities from said casing to said conduit, said conveyor being adapted to. be operated at varying speeds for supplying varying amounts of material fromsaid conveyor to said casing for maintaining a substantially constant head onIsaid measuring device, and

means for returning to the storage tank the excess material from'the conveyor at a point beyond said outlet.

10. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination With a storage tank con- =5;

taining comminuted material, of a conveyor for continuously conveying material from the tank, said conveyor having anoutletintermediate its ends, a casingpositioned below the conveyor outlet and adapted to. re-

ceive material therefrom, a delivery conduit, a shaft, a rotatable measuring-device mounted on said shaft, the speed of rotation of saidshaft being regulable for delivering maa terial in varying measured quantities from 3. 1

constant head on said measuring Wheel, and

means for, removing the excess material passing. beyond said outlet from said conveyor and returning such excess material to the storage tank.

11. In an apparatus of. the class described, a

the combination with a storage tank, containing comminuted material, of a conveyor for continuously conveying material from the tank, said conveyor having an outlet, a

casing below the conveyor adapted to receive material from the conveyor outlet, a rotatable measuring heel within the casing for transferring material in measured quantities from said casing to-a point therebel'oiv,,said

casing having a portion between the m-easur- C ing Wheel and the conveyor outletflfor rece ving the material fromth-e said conveyor in sufficient amount for maintain ng aconstant gravity head onthe measuring wheel,

the distance from the crown of the measuring Wheel to the conveyor opening being less than the altitude of the cone of repose of the material on the measuring Wheel to maintain said constant gravity head 'on'the feed Wheel and to prevent arching of the ti;

material on the Wheel; I r v v In testimony whereof affix. my signature.

GEORGE F. KEY. 

